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Today’s Kids Find Inspiration from YouTube

Children have vivid imaginations; dreams and creativity are often inspired by sources of entertainment. Maybe those include Disney, video games, family games, or YouTube.

In a society full of smartphones and tablets, kids have unlimited access to a wealth of entertainment options at their fingertips and social media has become a large part of that. Due to its prominence, many children are beginning to aspire to become famous at a young age.

Finding Inspiration from Social Media

One of the most ‘inspirational’ social media outlets is YouTube. Billions of videos are uploaded and watched each day. Unlike every other platform out there, you don’t need to meet any specific requirements to enjoy YouTube videos; as long as your child has access to the internet, they have access to YouTube.

With a wide variety of content online, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It goes beyond funny cat videos; YouTube can also be a great resource for education. There are channels that focus on, math, language, and art. YouTube Learning is just one example. Kids can enjoy DIYs for experiments, learn the history of their state, or listen to demonstrations of algebraic equations.

With that being said, there are some things on YouTube that not every child should have access to. One channel may be family-friendly while another is intended for mature audiences. As a parent, we know you want to protect your kids. YouTube offers parental controls, so make sure to set those up before letting your kids onto the site! There’s even a YouTube video to show you how.

Some popular YouTubers include Good Mythical Morning and Simple Kids Crafts. Other popular channels can be found here. The personalities they portray on YouTube are very real. Unlike mainstream celebrities, YouTube stars are down to earth and considered more ‘relatable.’ Emotions are raw, and channels that vlog everyday life don’t sell anything short. One study found that YouTubers are 17x more engaging than mainstream stars.

Creative Expressionism

Letting your kids be creative is a great way for them to develop self-expression at an early age. Even if your child doesn’t want to be a famous YouTuber, you can be supportive by teaching them confidence and self-love. Start from a young age, helping them become comfortable in front of cameras. Teach them to speak clearly and communicate well with others. Any child can use creative experiences through any form (music, video, art, dance, etc.) as a healthy coping mechanism. Allowing your kids to be inventive also helps acknowledge and celebrate their uniqueness.

There’s no denying the continued growth of YouTube around the globe. With that growth, the number of children interested in becoming YouTube famous is also on the rise. Research shows that 75 percent of children aspire to be YouTubers rather than choosing traditional career paths.

If you are the parent of a kid who wants to be a YouTube star, you may wonder how somebody from traditionally-rural South Dakota is ever going to make it big. For a boost of confidence, check out Dude Dad. Taylor is from Howard, a tiny town in western South Dakota, but he has over 60,000 subscribers on YouTube. Some of his videos have over two million views!